Whatcom County crew among firefighters attacking LA blaze larger than the size of Bellingham
An engine company from Whatcom County is among nearly 5,000 firefighters assigned to the Palisades Fire, the largest of the wildfires burning in Los Angeles — one that’s bigger than all of Bellingham.
Four firefighters from South Whatcom Fire Authority joined 11 strike teams from Washington state who left Friday for an 18-day deployment to the fire-stricken region, the Washington Military Department reported online.
They arrived early Saturday after driving straight through to Davis, Calif., where they were assigned to protect homes and businesses in the Mandeville Canyon area of Brentwood, South Whatcom Fire Chief Mitch Nolze said on the department’s Facebook page.
“The crew has already reported that the amount of damage they are seeing is unbelievable, but they are ready to begin helping these communities the best way they can,” Nolze said Sunday.
South Whatcom’s crew consists of Lt. Jen Squire and firefighters Sean Hecker, Annie Leete and Ethan Gerard.
All four hold “red card” certifications for wildland firefighting, as well as structural fire certifications and are emergency medical technicians.
Leete and Hecker have previous wildland firefighting experience, Nolze told The Bellingham Herald. Leete once served with a state Department of Natural Resources crew and Hecker was part of a private wildland fire unit.
“We are very grateful and proud of our crew that committed to this long mobilization away from their homes and loved ones to help the communities in California,” Nolze said.
At nearly 24,000 acres, the Palisades Fire is the largest of several wildfires burning in the Los Angeles region, Cal Fire reported Sunday online. It has claimed at least five lives and destroyed more than 600 buildings on the coastline northwest of Santa Monica.
In comparison, the entire city of Bellingham is about 19,000 acres, or 30 square miles.
The Palisades Fire was 11% contained and its cause was still under investigation Sunday.
South Whatcom’s crew is among 220 firefighting personnel in 55 engines and 13 command units from Washington state that Gov. Jay Inslee sent to California.
Firefighters at South Whatcom Fire maintain a wildland fire team and a Type 6 wildland engine. They train regularly to fight wildfires because their service area includes the rural communities of Geneva, Sudden Valley, Yew Street Road, Chuckanut Drive and Lake Samish. Those areas have significant wooded terrain, including Galbraith Mountain.
